Technology management can affect warehouse operations’ connectivity during and after a power outage. Whether the facility’s warehouse management system (WMS) is installed on-site, delivered via a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) program, or hosted in the cloud can have a huge impact on maintaining productivity, writes John Sterling of Foxfire Software.

To mark SmartWay's 10th anniversary, several shipper partners share their best tactics for getting the most out of the program... Sourcing and procurement functions have become areas of core incompetency says new survey.

When a merger required Nature’s Way to consolidate distribution facilities, it called on the services of system supplier The Numina Group for a new design and technologies. Today, the facility successfully distributes products to customers in 50 states, and overseas through five supply chain channels.

Cloud-based predictive analytics increasingly available to more companies of all sizes; RFID market set for robust growth by 2020; supply chain risk mitigation should be priority for all companies; key trends driving change for enterprises and government in 2014

An order management system from DF Young and Superior Technology helps Cintron Beverage Company boost inventory accuracy, fulfill orders easily and quickly, and track products throughout the supply chain.

Managing freight spend and payments challenges many shippers because rules and regulations vary by geography. Supply chain professionals benefit most from a global solution built for freight spend, says Rick Erickson of Syncada.

Best practices for transportation management dictate that shippers contact all their carriers and ask for accurate rates per mile for multiple lanes before performing an optimization, says Nick Carretta of Ultra Logistics

Logistics technology provides global supply chain managers with tools that help improve logistics operations. This market research survey and list of leading supply chain technology companies directs logistics professionals to the top software tools for their sector.

Parties storing goods in warehouses need to be alert to liens on their goods, writes Ron Leibman of Riker, Danzig, Scherer, Hyland, & Perretti LLP. To avoid unpleasant surprises, both parties to a warehousing agreement must understand their rights and the documents that cover their transactions.

Monitoring the pallet-level temperature of fresh, frozen, and packaged foods allows shippers and transporters to more effectively manage the quality and safety of products as they move through the supply chain, writes Kevin Payne of Intelleflex.

With the right investments in technology, 3PLs can make their business more attractive to current and potential clients by offering additional value-added services, superior inventory control, and overall cost reduction, writes Chuck Fuerst of HighJump Software.

Yard and dock management systems use real-time and physical data to assist facilities in efficiently managing operations such as loading dock visibility, live and staged trailer coordination, and turn time management, writes Eric Breen of 4SIGHT.

Continuous e-commerce growth has prompted an increasing number of retailers to use third-party logistics (3PL) providers for handling their direct-to-consumer fulfillment. Jeffrey B. Graves of Sedlak Management Consultants explains that for retail logistics executives, assessing 3PL capabilities that best fit their company’s requirements can be a challenge, yet critical for optimum return on investment (ROI)

The cloud-based Real Time Value Network enables trading partners to plan, execute, monitor, and synchronize in real time all of the business processes and events that take place throughout their extended supply chains, says Greg Brady of One Network Enterprises.

Advances in consumer technologies such as smartphones and tablets are driving a new generation of rugged mobility innovation for logistics and supply chain applications, writes Tim Eusterman of Intermec Technologies.

Business Intelligence within the supply chain improves internal efficiencies and accountability while saving time and eliminating costs with metrics-driven decision-making and change management, writes Steve Dowse, International Asset Systems.

The development of new technologies for planning, managing, tracking, and securing shipments never ends, and with new digital options always just around the corner, organizations of all sizes need to stay informed on the latest advances. Pablo Ciano of DHL Express identifies four key business areas where technology makes all the difference.

Supply chain visibility helps flag upcoming supply or demand problems, allowing a company either to take action to prevent disasters or to respond by activating backup plans, writes George W. Prest of Material Handling Industry of America.

To move ahead of competitors, it is critical that organizations collaborate using electronic, real-time information sharing, merged from multiple partners in a single actionable environment, says John Reichert of TECSYS Inc.

Once cost-prohibitive to all but the largest enterprises, warehouse management systems (WMS) are now available to small and mid-sized companies, offering benefits such as improved inventory accuracy and labor savings, says Ralph Hess, N’Ware Technologies.

By working together to align the processes by which shippers tender freight and carriers receive it, supply chain partners can achieve greater efficiency at the loading dock while improving safety, quality, performance, and margins for all stakeholders.

For both third-party logistics providers (3PLs) and retailers, investing in a technology partner that supports customization and flexibility at a moderate cost is a strategy for long-term adaptability and growth, says Chandra Allred of PSCTrac.

Mexico-based automotive glassmaker Vitro Automotive opened a distribution center in the United States to serve Detroit automakers just-in-time requirements. Its long-time logistics service provider Evans Distribution Systems staffed the new DC for Vitro to ensure a quality workforce.

By highlighting the differences between an organization’s performance and a comparative reference standard, benchmarks can identify improvement opportunities and identify activities required to achieve superior performance.

Trucking load boards have evolved from bulletin boards in truck stops to sophisticated social networking-style tools on handheld computers. Charles Myers of uShip.com outlines the benefits of the evolved load board.

Using lean components as a foundation for labor management is a powerful way to increase productivity and reduce costs in a warehouse or distribution center, according to Ryder Supply Chain Solutions’ Jeff Boudreau.

Many ERP vendors have added full-blown supply chain management functionality to their solution suites. Here’s a look at some of their offerings, and at two large companies that are reaping the benefits.

Supply chain executives must think differently about their logistics processes, and implement multi-party technology that gives them and their logistics partners greater control of the supply chain, says Chris Jones of Descartes.

Logistics can now be aligned with supply chain and manufacturing through solutions that create daily transportation need forecasts by lane/mode/carrier. Robert F. Byrne of Terra Technology outlines the benefits.

Choosing an enterprise resource planning (ERP) vendor that addresses flexibility, scalability, and upgrade and maintenance costs can help provide a smooth solution implementation. David F. Ross of APICS, The Association for Operations Management, offers his advice on selecting the right ERP system.

Retailers can implement technology and processes to increase traceability and gain greater visibility into their supply chain, which helps track and retrieve products in the event of a product recall, writes Brendan Lowe, Aldata Solution.

A comprehensive supply chain labor management solution that automates processes such as hiring, time, and attendance, and scheduling can help control costs, minimize compliance risk, and improve productivity, says Malysa O'Connor, Kronos.

Most ports today compete globally with one another and reflect tremendous productivity gains in ocean transport achieved in recent decades. Simon Kaye of Jaguar Freight offers tips on choosing a port with electronic and data processing sophistication.

RFID technologies allow computers, objects, and individuals to interact in new ways, supplying logistics providers and materials handlers with predictable and actionable data to enhance their service offerings and operations, explains Ravi Pappu of ThingMagic.

As volumes increase and deadlines get shorter, it’s imperative that logistics software systems have out-of-the-box communication with other companies using the same system, and easy setup of communications with companies using other systems.

Industrial property developers are cultivating greener distribution facilities and nurturing Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards compliance. The bounty? A harvest of benefits for their tenants.

Transportation forecasts enable planners to shift from reacting to orders to proactively managing capacity. By synchronizing transport forecasts with manufacturing and distribution plans, your entire company can respond to the same demand signals.

Supply chain strategies built around software-as-a-service (SaaS) or Cloud computing eliminate many headaches that often come with supply chain investments. They eliminate the need for presence overseas, cut the time spent integrating systems across internal departments, and greatly reduce the time spent integrating with hundreds of partners and suppliers.

It is interesting to witness the changes that have occurred in transportation purchasing. For one, the annual bid mentality is gone. With access and visibility to posting boards, SaaS transportation networks, and optimization technologies, transportation procurement has evolved to the point where it is truly a continuous management function.

Manual data inputs. Multiple data sources. Data latency. Point-to-point interfaces. These are just a few key obstacles to achieving supply chain visibility. But, there are solutions available that deliver visibility and intelligence as a service with process, security, and environmental monitoring.

Third-party logistics providers that use advanced planning tools to model complex routing operations and streamline the bid process have a significant advantage in both demonstrating results and helping clients cut costs. When they cut modeling time to a fraction of what it was, and utilize new tools, 3PLs can uncover opportunities and quickly implement changes that provide benefit for their clients.

Sometimes it's easier than you think to find hidden profits in your warehouse or transportation operations. Many successful companies are doing more with less by simply optimizing their slotting practices, pick paths, truckloads and delivery routes.

As different countries implement both security and trade-led initiatives around the world, it is critical to improve global regulatory knowledge and visibility, writes Tom Barnes of Integration Point Inc.

Smart companies carefully select and intelligently apply automation not only to boost productivity, but also to turn the distribution center into a competitive weapon, writes Mick Mountz of Kiva Systems Inc.